I think the usfsa wanted Igor to have a team as close to the top as possible.

But why? Do you think the USFSA is afraid he'll return to Russia if he doesn't get good results? I could see that, I guess. But if that were the case, you'd think they'd want to keep Krylova/Camerlengo happy too . . . BTW, I really hate to think the results were determined by such politicking--I'm not saying it may not be true, but I'd prefer if it weren't. :-)

I think the usfsa wanted Igor to have a team as close to the top as possible.

Toni, you hit the nail on the head! Totally agree!! All the US, 2nd to 5th teams, are very close and each team has weakness and strength. USFS inflated the scorres on the team they like. The Shibs have the nicest quality blades and smoothness, same as Lynn and Logan (totally agree with eyria on that). H/D have the power and aggression but sloppy with loud scratchy blades (as Belbin said, "snow flakes" on ice when they skate). C/B can do lots of trick but the skating quality is lacking, particularly Chock. USFS wants to push new team of Igor. They prob. felt Marina won't last and they need Igor for the after "D/W era".

I do not understand how these political conspiracies are supposed to work. Does the President of USFS send a memo to each of the judges saying, here are your instructions: put a Sjpilband team on the podium?

I do not understand how these political conspiracies are supposed to work. Does the President of USFS send a memo to each of the judges saying, here are your instructions: put a Sjpilband team on the podium?

Neither do I. I know David Raith quite well having worked with him for a couple of years. Don't think he's any expert in ice dance and probably has no particular opinion on who wins. He most likely just places his trust in our judges to send the best possible team to Worlds.

while I think USFSA did want both Igor and Marina to have a top team. Honestly the real reason Igor team went second was because he's more tech savvy than Zoueva. And she has her "favorites" (pretty evident these days) and the others suffer from it. Shibs need to at least jump to their former coach or a new team entirely.